John V Gibbons

Executive Director
John Gibbons, former executive director of the Rhode Island Sports Commission, passed away last year at the age of 63. Gibbons joined the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2006. In 2010, he was appointed executive director of the Rhode Island Sports Commission, where he transformed the sports landscape in Rhode Island. Gibbons traveled extensively to represent Rhode Island to bring business to the state, including the NCAA Men’s Basketball, Ice Hockey, and the Division III Wrestling and Lacrosse tournaments in 2024 and 2025. He was a former board member for Sports ETA and a Certified Sports Tourism Strategist. Gibbons was a graduate of the University of New Haven with a Bachelor’s Degree in Travel & Tourism Management.